VIA launches first interactive 'smart city' kiosk in San Antonio

Downtown San Antonio’s Centro Plaza is the new home to VIA Metropolitans Transit’s state-of-the-art transit hub, Interactive Kiosk Experience (IKE) Smart City Kiosks. The interactive wayfinding and information system make it easy to navigate VIA service, receive real-time traffic and transit information, find places to shop and eat nearby, and access City services.

Each IKE Smart City has a double-sided digital display with apps offering an array of uses, such as helping pedestrians discover nearby attractions and parks while providing them with multi-modal directions to nearby destinations. Information about public events or public safety can be pushed to the kiosks in real-time, and users can transfer information to their smartphones.

IKE Smart City aims to bring smart technology and helpful resources to both the masses and micro transit modalities. Additionally, IKE will serve as the nexus of a series of smart mobility hubs that connect mass transit with first and last mile micro-transit such as scooters and ebikes and provide the information and route-planning functionality to enable low-cost, convenient, and environmentally sensitive transportation options.

Future IKE Smart City locations include: VIA Five Points Transfer Area, VIA Medical Transit Center, VIA Ingram Transit Center, VIA Kel-Lac Transit Center, and VIA Brooks Transit Center. The partnership requires no additional funding from VIA and will generate revenue that can be reinvested into city programs and improvements.